Proposed reguations will limit prisoner visits and increase searches

The West Coast Prison Justice Society has endorsed submissions made by the Canadian Prison Law Association that are critical of proposed regulations that would limit the right of prisoners to have visits and would increase searches of prisoners and their visitors.

The new regulations are aimed at reducing the amount of drugs that enter prison, despite the fact that CSC’s own evidence demonstrates that drug interdiction measures have not been effective in reducing drug use in prison.

Studies have shown that prisoners who have visits are less likely to commit crimes and return to prison after they are released to the community. The evidence also supports harm reduction strategies that reduce the transmission of HIV and Hepatitis C. The proposed regulations do not provide for harm reduction strategies such as needle exchanges or supervised use programs. Neither do the proposed regulations provide for an increase in treatment for prisoners who are addicted to drugs.